FEMME – Gold
FEMME’s latest single “Gold” is a monster of a pop track. Describing the song, FEMME said: “I wrote ‘Gold’ after spending many days watching ABBA videos and late nights dreaming of Shirley Bassey. It’s about being blinded by someone’s immaculate golden veneer to the point of not realising you may not be in love at all.” We’ve all been there.
Fleur East – Sax
Good luck dislodging this hook from your brain. “Sax” is Fleur East’s first single since she was runner-up in last year’s X Factor and is a huge statement of intent. The track was co-written by pop writing royalty Camille Purcell (Little Mix, The Saturdays) and JHart (Jason Derulo, Usher) so was never going to be not amazing.
Santigold – Can’t Get Enough of Myself
Santigold recently announced the details of her third album 99 Cents and dropped the ferociously catchy “Can’t Get Enough of Myself”. The album, her fist since 2012’s underrated Master of My Make-Believe, sees Santigold working with long-time producers John Hill and Dave Sitek as well as Rostam Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend), Patrik Berger (Robyn, Lana Del Rey) and Justin Raisen (Sky Ferreira). The album will be released on 22 January.
Polo – Visions of Fortune
Inspired by the likes of Jungle and Banks, “Visions of Fortune” is the new track from Yorkshire duo Polo. It’s a beautiful, other-worldly track, a soulful slice of future-pop. Polo describe the song as “deep and accepting of the nature in which people can perceive things at face value, but the song isn’t defeatist and certainly fights back”. “Visions of Fortnum” will be released on 4 December.
Kali Uchis – Ridin Round
Kali Uchis has dropped the video for new track “Ridin Round”. 2015 has been a huge year for Uchis. Following the release of the amazing “Por Vida” she toured the US with Leon Bridges and appeared on Tyler, the Creator’s album Cherry Bomb. 2016 is going to be even bigger and better for one of music’s most exciting prospects.
Ecca Vandal – End of Time
“End of Time” is the new single from Melbourne-based Ecca Vandal. It’s quite the sonic shift from previous singles “Father Hu$$la” and “White Flag” but no less excellent. The track was co-produced and co-written with Kidnot and is released on 27 November.
Fono – Everybody Knows (Feat. Anna Straker)
Brighton’s Fono has dropped his new single “Everybody Knows” which features vocals from Anna Straker. Fono said: “This was definitely the most fun I’ve had writing a track with a vocalist” – and it shows. In a year when every man and his dog are releasing electronica-tinged pop, it’s reassuring when you hear something that is actually brilliant.
biLLLy – Confused Lover
London producer biLLLy says that “Confused Lover” is about “accepting there’s a problem in a relationship, which is hard and often ignored”. Don’t be deceived by biLLLy’s laid back a vocal, this man has a way with words and can produce a killer beat. Previous biLLLy tracks have included the brilliant “Sertraline” and “Up In The Air”.
DIIV – Bent (Roi’s Song)
DIIV has released another taste of their forthcoming sophomore album Is the Is Are, which will be released on 5 February. Frontman Zachary Cole Smith tweeted that he struggled to get through the recording of this track because he was too emotional. At times Smith’s vocals are overwhelmed by the guitars, fitting for a song that is about a struggle for “clarity, sanity and sobriety”.
Mabel – My Boy My Town
Mabel is a depressingly talented 19-year-old and “My Boy My Town”, her second single, indicates that she’s only going to get better. An understated force of nature, her songwriting is soulful and sultry and more mature than most her age.